John A. Lacko | Special to the Gazette
Malachi MacLeod, 7, of Detroit, gives a volunteer firefighter a high five as he takes the front seat of a fire truck Sunday for the parade from Wings Stadium to the Great Lakes Burn Camp at Pretty Lake Vacation Camp.

TEXAS TOWNSHIP -- Deja and Dejon Carter look at their burn scars and see opportunities had, not opportunities missed.

The 16-year-old California twins, among some 90 burn survivors attending this year's Great Lakes Burn Camp at Pretty Lake Vacation Camp, say camps like the one here have afforded them opportunities like traveling and skiing. It also has helped them appreciate themselves and the people around them.

"She's burned in the back, but she can sing," Dejon Carter said of his sister. "Some people are good poets. I play four different instruments and play sports."

The camp kicked off Sunday at Wings Stadium, where participants boarded fire trucks from across the area for a 14-mile parade-style ride to the Texas Township camp, led by nearly 200 motorcycles from across the state.

"I came out not so much to be a counselor to the kids but to support them and let them know people care and that they're important enough," said J. Edward Halcomb, chapter director of the Wind and Fire Motorcycle Club, who first rode solo in the parade in 1996. "It goes here in the heart. So many things you succeed and fail at in life. This is good. You're serving someone else other than yourself."

John A. Lacko | Special to the GazetteDeja Carter, right, 16, of Pomona, Calif., talks to Kyle Yozachun, 18, of Grand Rapids, Sunday at Wings Stadium before the fire-truck parade to the Great Lakes Burn Camp at Pretty Lake Camp.

About 90 survivors up to age 18 are enrolled in this year's camp, completely funded with donations from fire departments and area businesses and staffed with 80 volunteers. The week's theme is Olympics and includes swim challenges, Frisbee toss and closing medal ceremonies, in addition to traditional camping activities like boating, archery, arts and crafts, and field games.

The Carter twins, who have attended nearly a dozen camps each across the country, said those opportunities -- and others -- have helped them emotionally heal from their burns.

"Being burned is an advantage," Deja Carter said. "I've been here, Chicago, Washington, places I would never be if I wasn't a burn survivor. I never would have been able to afford that."

"Being burned makes you appreciate life more," Dejon Carter added.

The twins and an older brother were burned by grease at age 2 while grabbing fish sticks off the stove, with Deja suffering more severe injuries on her back, arms and thighs. Deja said it's only been in recent years that she would wear short-sleeve sweaters in the summer or a bathing suit in the pool.

John A. Lacko | Special to the Kalamazoo GazetteThe lead fire truck leads the parade carrying campers to the Great Lakes Burn Camp at Pretty Lake Camp from Wings Stadium Sunday afternoon.

"When people get burned, they don't feel pretty," Deja Carter said. "It took me a long time to understand that it's your body and it's not going to change.

"Even boyfriend, girlfriend stuff. I learned they either like me or they don't like me."
Harlie DesRoches learned about the camp on Friday from a pen pal, in time to sign up 7-year-old nephew Malachi MacLeod for his first camp. She said she is grateful Malachi can enjoy some traditional summer fun without the curious stares of onlookers.

"It's nice he won't have to think about what he looks like," DesRoches said. "I didn't know something like this existed. It's awesome.

"We don't know what it's like for him. We're not in his skin."

Cassie VanOrder knows the camp's significance to burn survivors. VanOrder was just 10 when she attended the first Great Lakes Burn Camp in 1995. She attended every year until 2002, when she became a camp staffer.

John A. Lacko | Special to the Kalamazoo GazetteDajanat Lynch, 9, of Detroit, left and Amari Harris, 8, also of Detroit, are amazed by a magic trick performed by Lucian Marks, of Plainwell, as they wait Sunday at Wings Stadium for the fire truck parade to the Great Lakes Burn Camp at Pretty Lake Camp.

"I gained a sense of myself," said VanOrder, who also received a full scholarship from the camp to attend Western Michigan University, where she is studying elementary education. "Knowing I'm not the only burn survivor out there allowed me to be more open, to be more myself."

VanOrder was 10 months old when she suffered third-degree burns over 82 percent of her body from grease from a deep fryer. She said burn camp was a safe place, and campers and staff quickly became a second family.

"There was teasing. There was talking," VanOrder, who has had more than 20 surgeries, said of life outside of camp as a child. "It's tough even now. People still stare. People are ignorant."

Lead staff Director Mike Hackett said he's taken aback by the camp's significance to survivors and volunteers.

"I'm a pretty tough guy, but this gets emotional for me," said Hackett.